Nebraska Joint Information Center Update
April 23, 2020 (LINCOLN, Neb.) (The next update from the JIC will be on Monday. Tomorrow is Arbor Day and some state offices are closed.)
COVID-19 Case Updates
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Dashboard
1,813 positive tests — 15,547 negative tests — 45 deaths
United States The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website:
Numbers listed on the CDC website today at 2:30 p.m. are from April 21
802,583 cases — 44,575 deaths
Globally World Health Organization Situation Report
2,544,792 cases — 175,694 deaths
Johns Hopkins University of Medicine COVID-19 Dashboard
2,682,225 cases — 187,330 deaths
State of Nebraska Updates
Gov. Pete Ricketts’ Office https://governor.nebraska.gov
NEW At his 2 p.m. news conference today, Gov. Ricketts hosted Steve Wellman, director of the Department of Agriculture, and Caryn Vincent of Women, Infants and Children (WIC) at DHHS.
Wellman reminded Nebraskans that tomorrow is Arbor Day and it is also spring planting time. With that in mind, Wellman asked nurseries and garden centers to make sure there is plenty of space for customers to follow social distancing guidelines.
As Farmers Markets open this spring, Wellman reminded vendors to:
· Refrain from handing out samples
· Give customers more space
· Provide hand sanitizers and
· Take precautions to protect yourself and your staff.
He reminded customers to
- Practice social distancing
- Wear masks, and
- Only pick up the products they are going to purchase.
Wellman said a detasseling task force is developing protocol that will protect the 7,000 Nebraskans who fill this vital role in Nebraska each year.
Vincent said there are 33,000 women and children in Nebraska who participate in the WIC program every month. WIC is still helping families get healthy foods during the COVID-19 pandemic. WIC offices no longer require in-person visits at this time. Even if a change in income is only temporary, many families may still qualify for the program. If you are pregnant, just had a baby, or are the parent/guardian/foster parent of a child under 5 years old, visit http://signupwic.com/ to find the phone number of a WIC office near you.
NEW Gov. Ricketts will answer questions during a one-hour NET News Speaking of Nebraska COVID-19 Town Hall tonight at 8:30 p.m. Joining him will be Dr. James Linder of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and Dannette Smith, Chief Executive Officer of DHHS.
REMINDER Test Nebraska is a new program that will assess, test and track COVID-19 cases in Nebraska. Visit testnebraska.com to complete an online assessment. The program will help the state increase testing which is important to stop the spread of the virus in the state and especially important when restrictions are lifted. The increased testing will allow only those who test positive to stay home while those who test negative can return to work. Ricketts said the testing will be free for Nebraskans and will give the state real-time information about COVID-19. As part of the plan, Nebraskans are asked to take the #TestNebraskaChallenge and to nominate five friends to take the test.
REMINDER Nebraska is on Day 14 of 21 Days to Stay Home and Stay Healthy
Please follow these Six Rules to Keep Nebraska Healthy
- Stay home. No non-essential errands and no social gatherings. Respect the 10-person limit.
- Socially distance your work. Work from home or use the six-foot rule as much as possible in the workplace.
- Shop alone and only shop once a week. Do not take family with you.
- Help kids follow social distancing. Play at home. No group sports and no playgrounds.
- Help seniors stay at home by shopping for them. Do not visit long-term care facilities.
- Exercise daily at home or with an appropriately socially-distanced activity.
Secretary of State’s Office
* Urgent Reminder regarding Voter Registration Deadlines *
- April 24 — last day of postmark to register by mail
- April 27 — last day to register online
Early vote mail-in ballot request
- May 1 The last day to request an early ballot
- May 12 Primary Election, Poles Open and the last day to return your ballot - by close of polls
To Date 413,839 ballots have been sent to Nebraska Voters
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) COVID-19 Information | DHHS News Releases
COVID-19 Dashboard now includes hospitalization data:http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/DHHS-Expands-COVID-19-Dashboard-to-Include-Hospitalization-Data.aspx
Dashboard link:
https://nebraska.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/4213f719a45647bc873ffb58783ffef3
Other DHHS Links and Information COVID-19 Information | DHHS News Releases
· Nebraska COVID-19 Information Line: (402) 552-6645. Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CST – every day.
· State agencies are sharing information using the #NECOVID19 Hashtag
· DHHS has produced COVID-19 announcements available in English and En Español. Directed Health Measures translated in Spanish and Vietnamese are now available for Douglas, Cass, Sarpy and Lancaster counties. http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx#SectionLink1
· Review the Health Alert Network (HAN) for recent information and guidelines for health care providers.
Nebraska Emergency Management Agency https://nema.nebraska.gov/news
REMINDER NEMA has several Twitter lists you can follow by visiting https://twitter.com/NEMAtweets/lists. Consider Subscribing to the Nebraska State Government List or to the Nebraska County and Regional Emergency Managers List.
REMINDER There is no essential staffing list maintained by the State of Nebraska for people who have jobs to perform. Individuals leaving their homes in order to perform an activity or function for their jobs DO NOT need to carry or present any letter, identification card or other paper proving that they are allowed to leave their home.
Attorney General
NEW In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Attorney General Doug Peterson and a bipartisan coalition of 34 attorneys general recommended actions to help homeowners in letters sent today to the Federal Housing Finance Administration (FHFA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). To read on this topic and the letters find information here.
Department of Administrative Services
A number of state agencies and private organizations have received inquiries from Nebraska manufacturers that have the capabilities to provide needed medical equipment for hospitals and medical providers. The Nebraska Department of Administrative Services (DAS) has partnered with the Nebraska Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NMEP) to help organize the manufacturers with these capabilities and connect them with the medical community.
For manufacturers please visit https://go.unl.edu/criticalmanufacturing to register your company and list the products your company is able to produce in short deadlines. For people in the medical community that want to access these companies and order needed supplies, please contact: Doug Carlson, Chief Procurement Officer for the State of Nebraska, [email protected], 402-471-0972
Department of Agriculture (NDA) nda.nebraska.gov
NEW Nurseries and Garden Centers: The Nebraska Department of Agriculture has created guidance for nurseries and garden centers to help keep customers healthy and to slow the spread of COVID-19. All nurseries and garden centers should first consult with their local health department to ensure that the business is able to meet all local health department guidelines. Nursery and garden center guidance and additional agriculture-related information can be found on NDA’s website at: www.nda.nebraska.gov/COVID-19.
Department of Banking and Finance
NEW The Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance posted three new Consumer Advisories on its website alerting Nebraskans to investment threats and COVID-19 related investment schemes, along with guidance and tips to avoid scammers.
The April 21, 2020 Consumer Advisories can be found at https://ndbf.nebraska.gov/about/covid-19-consumer-and-industry-guidance under the ‘Consumer Guidance’ tab.
Department of Corrections corrections.nebraska.gov
NDCS has COVID-19 related information on its webpage at https://corrections.nebraska.gov/ndcs-coronavirus-health-update.
Department of Economic Development https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/nded-covid19/
Business owners or nonprofit leaders are being asked to fill out a survey to report on how COVID-19 has impacted their organizations. The response will help the State of Nebraska, the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, the University of Nebraska and other partners understand the impact coronavirus has had on revenue and workforce—and find the best ways to support our business and nonprofit community during this crisis. Make your voice heard at https://bit.ly/NE-Biz-Survey-2020.
The Nebraska Department of Economic Development, the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, the University of Nebraska and other business-related organizations are reaching out to Nebraska businesses to better understand the initial and potential future impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on the revenue and workforce of business organizations.
The goal is to find the best ways to support the Nebraska business community. The Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) at the University of Nebraska is working with Dr. Josie Schafer at UNO’s Center for Public Affairs Research (CPAR)—and in collaboration with Dr. Eric Thompson at UNL, Dr. Dave Dearmont at the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and Pete Thompson at the Omaha Chamber—to develop a survey for Nebraska businesses. CPAR will capture the survey results and publish the statewide report. The survey will be in both English and Spanish language versions.
- Applies to non-profit leaders as well as business leaders
- We want to understand challenges as we develop support strategies
- Survey will help as we work to restore growth/plan for the future
The survey launched today at 2 pm and will run through Friday, April 24 at 5 p.m. (10 days total).
Department of Environment and Energy http://dee.ne.gov
NDEE has issued guidance for indoor and outdoor pools during the COVID-19 pandemic. The department recommends pools, spas and spray parks carefully evaluate state and local Directed Health Measures, and close or delay opening until they are lifted.
Current Centers for Disease Control guidance states the novel Coronavirus is not spread in pool water if proper pool chemistry is maintained; however, there is a concern for common areas and people being in close contact.
For more information, please refer to the memo on our COVID-19 page.
Department of Insurance
CARES Act payments will have no impact on ACA Marketplace subsidies according to the Nebraska Department of Insurance.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, calls for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to make economic impact payments of up to $1,200 per taxpayer and $500 for each qualifying child, adjusted based on income. The federal government has announced that any money received due to the CARES Act does not need to be included as income on an application for individual health insurance coverage through healthcare.gov.
In addition, payments received through the CARES Act do not impact an individual’s eligibility for financial assistance for health care coverage through the Marketplace or eligibility for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). For more information, visit IRS Coronavirus Tax Relief or https://www.healthcare.gov/coronavirus/.
Department of Labor NEworks.nebraska.gov and dol.nebraska.gov
NEW There were 12,045 new unemployment insurance claims filed during the week ending April 18, a decrease of more than 24 percent from the previous week when 15,943 initial claims were filed. There were 41,727 filed in the entire 2019 calendar year. Spreadsheets showing claims data are available here and will be updated every Thursday.
Initial claims are filed by individuals to request a determination of eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits. NDOL processes initial unemployment insurance claims and, if an individual meets eligibility criteria, benefits are paid for each week of continued unemployment.
Claims by Industry
The highest counts of initial claims were in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry (1,529, which decreased 22.5 percent from the prior week (1,973). All industries had declines in initial claims from the prior week except for Manufacturing and Transportation and Warehousing, which saw an increase of 11.4 percent and 59.2 percent respectively.
Filing A Claim
Any worker in a non-paid status due to COVID-19 may file a claim for unemployment insurance benefits. Unemployment claims in Nebraska are filed online at NEworks.nebraska.gov. The NEworks mobile app is available to download for free. After filing a new initial claim, applicants must certify their eligibility every week that they continue to be unemployed by logging into their NEworks account. These weekly certifications must be completed even while the new claim is still being processed. Claim and payment status can also be viewed by logging into the NEworks account.
CARES Act
The federal CARES Act created a temporary program that offers benefits to individuals not eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits including the self-employed, independent contractors, gig workers, and others (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance or PUA). The act also increases the amount an individual on regular unemployment or PUA will receive by $600 for every week an individual is unemployed. All individuals who qualify will receive $600 in additional benefits for each eligible week of unemployment through July 25. Workers who have been affected by the pandemic should file a claim for unemployment. NDOL will automatically review every claim that comes in for eligibility under the CARES Act.
Department of Motor Vehicles DMV news releases
Department of Natural Resources
On April 23, 125 years ago, NeDNR began its mission to safeguard Nebraska’s most precious natural resource through sound partnerships, cooperation and science-based decision making to help grow Nebraska’s future. Our agency continues to ensure that critical water-related information remains available (see https://dnr.nebraska.gov/.) Be assured that our staff continue to update vital information, including real-time streamgaging information, during this pandemic.
To support National Flood Insurance Program policyholders amid the COVID-19 pandemic, FEMA is extending its 30-day grace period for policy renewals up to 120 days. This is effective for National Flood Insurance Program policies with an expiration date between February 13 – June 15, 2020.
For more information, visit the FEMA website https://nfipservices.floodsmart.gov/
FEMA also has some guidance on flood insurance claims during this time. It allows for the claims to be adjusted remotely without an adjustor visiting the property.
Department of Revenue
During the COVID-19 pandemic, as the Nebraska Department of Revenue provides guidance, direction, or pertinent public information such items may be found here. The most current information will be posted to the department’s website under “Featured Information”. Taxpayer Assistance is also available online and by phone, and contact information may be found here.
Department of Transportation
NEW the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) launched a new Traffic Count Dashboard as an informational resource for Nebraskans. NDOT has been reporting traffic data since March 1 to track the impact of COVID-19 on statewide traffic volumes. For the week of April 12 through April 18, statewide traffic volumes were down 35 percent compared to the 2016-18 average.
The Traffic Count Dashboard will be updated weekly and can be viewed using the following link:
https://gis.ne.gov/portal/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/4473552a18f34645ad0dede3ae1105ce
“The traffic count dashboard is a tool to help the DOT understand and communicate how COVID-19 is impacting travel in Nebraska,” said NDOT Director Kyle Schneweis. “While we are seeing freight traffic stay at near normal levels, a 35 percent decrease in statewide traffic volume poses potential impacts to how the NDOT does business. It is too early to estimate the extent of impact but we’ll continue to analyze the data to understand scenarios.”
The data compares 2020s traffic to the historical three-year (2016-18) average daily traffic for each day of the week for that month and then averages the difference in traffic for each week by category. Data for 2019 was excluded due to the impacts of flooding on highways. For example, March 15-21 is calculated by finding the difference in March 15, 2020 vs. the historical average Sunday traffic for March, March 16 2020 vs. the historic average Monday in March, etc. Then each day is averaged together to get a weekly average change in traffic.
The column descriptions are as follows:
- Rural Highway are all non-interstate roads in areas under 5,000 population.
- Omaha Streets and Highways include all non-interstate roads in Douglas and Sarpy counties.
- Lincoln Streets and Highways include all non-interstate roads in Lancaster County.
- Remaining Small Urban Streets and Highways are all roads in cities with over 5,000 population outside of Douglas, Sarpy, and Lancaster counties. (This includes I-129).
- Statewide Total is a weighted average of all categories.
The NDOT maintains a system of 67 continuous traffic counters statewide. These are often called automatic traffic recorders (ATRs). These counters collect traffic volume and classification data 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Data is then relayed to NDOT twice per week.
For more information/data about ATRs and links to the Annual ATR and March 2020 reports:
https://dot.nebraska.gov/media/3811/annual-traffic-count-data.pdf
https://dot.nebraska.gov/media/7569/autotrfrecorddata.pdf
Lottery https://nelottery.com/homeapp/article/4220/display
Nebraska Lottery players with prizes up to $19,999 are encouraged to claim by mail. Instructions for claiming prizes by mail can be found at https://nelottery.com/homeapp/article/4220/display Regional Lottery Claim Centers in Grand Island, Norfolk, North Platte, and Scottsbluff are closed to the public, but Nebraska Lottery headquarters in Lincoln and the Omaha Claim Center are open. Call 402-471-6100 to confirm office hours before claiming a prize in person at these locations.
Game and Parks Commission http://outdoornebraska.gov/healthinfo/
http://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/2020/04/a-fun-challenge-for-you-camp-at-home-nebraska/
In a proactive effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is prohibiting overnight camping at state parks, state recreation areas and wildlife management areas through Friday, May 8 and state park area lodging and cabins are closed through May 8 as well.
For a list of all Game and Parks cancellations, postponements and closures, go to: OutdoorNebraska.org/healthinfo. For more detailed information about how coronavirus cancellations may affect customers, check the Frequently Asked Questions page at OutdoorNebraska.gov/covid19faqs or use the Contact Us form at OutdoorNebraska.gov/contact. Past news release are available online: http://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/category/news/
Military Department
NEW A total of 290 Nebraska National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are supporting COVID-19 response efforts in Nebraska.
NEW - 69 soldiers and airmen now supporting food packaging with Food Bank for the Heartland in Omaha and food packaging and distribution with Food Bank of Lincoln.
Updated Three mobile testing teams continue to provide support to local health districts. As of April 22, the teams have collected 2,716 test samples in 14 counties.
Updated The Nebraska National Guard will be updating this album with photos throughout the COVID-19 response
Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NCDHH)
NCDHH has the following VLOGs online relating to COVID-19:
COVID-19: Educational Resources & Communication Access NCDHH Executive Director John Wyvill discusses the importance of ensuring you and your child are prepared and receiving education information during transition to remote-learning.
COVID-19: Deaf and Hard of Hearing Organizations Stress Importance of Communication Access NCDHH Behavioral Health Coordinator Carly Weyers provides information on how to best keep informed with full communication access on announcements related to COVID-19.
COVID-19: NCDHH Offices and Social Distancing Information regarding preventative measures to keep you and the NCDHH team healthy featuring Behavioral Health Coordinator, Carly Weyers.
Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Office
The Nebraska State Fire Marshal has developed an electronic burn permit that can be used by fire chiefs across the state beginning today. It allows fire departments to review, approve and issue burn permits without having to meet in-person with those who are requesting them, thus promoting social distancing and reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission to the firefighting community.
To obtain a PDF copy of the electronic burn permit, or to find out more, a fire chief can contact Assistant State Fire Marshal Doug Hohbein by email at [email protected] and request one. Requirements for the proper issuance and use of the permit are included on page 2 of the permit.
The issuance and use of electronic burn permits will terminate 30 days after the COVID-19 declared State of Emergency has been withdrawn.”
Nebraska State Patrol
NEW While traffic volume has decreased on Nebraska roadways, excessive speeding has been on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic. As Nebraska State Troopers continue to patrol roads, highways and interstates throughout the state, they’ve reported an increase in excessive speeding over the last month.
Since March 19, when the first Directed Health Measure was issued by Governor Ricketts, Troopers have cited 100 motorists for speeding at more than 100 miles per hour. That figure compares to 61 during the same period in 2019.
Those 100 speeders stopped for traveling in excess of 100 miles per hour were located in 21 different Nebraska counties.
Additionally, 210 motorists have been cited for driving between 90 and 99 miles per hour during the last 35 days. The Nebraska Department of Transportation reports that traffic volume on Nebraska’s interstates and highways has dropped by about 35 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Any motorist who observes an impaired or dangerous driver can call the NSP Highway Helpline at *55 or 800-525-5555 and make a report directly to an NSP dispatcher.
Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office
Due to the COVID-19 health crisis, the Unclaimed Property Division offices are closed to the public. Treasurer’s Office staff are available by phone at 402-471-8497 or 877-572-9688 and will continue to process claims mailed into the Lincoln office or filed online.
Office of the Chief Information Officer Website